Chausey (Surface : 65 hectares at high tide and 5000 hectares at low tide - Population : ten or so "chausiais" in winter, fifty or so during the season)
With its 52 islets, it is the biggest European archipelago and the most nothern of the "Iles du Ponant". There, no cars, nor bicycles. The sandy tracks of the "Great Island", (2 km long and 200 to 700 m wide), the only inhabited island of the archipelago, can solely be discovered on foot
.
With such a natural but fragile environment, the entire archipelago is fortunately under the protection of a SCI (sort of a property investment partnership). The SCI owns two thirds of the Great Island and the islets. It relies on the visitors to respect the environment. In return, it allows them to have access to its property following made-up paths.
Getting There
Seasonal
Compagnie Maritime JOLIE FRANCE – Armement LECORDIER
35 min crossing on board of the ship « Jeune France 2 ». 50 min crossing on board of the ship « Jolie France 2 »
Gare maritime de Granville (Granville Harbour Station) – Boarding next to the green light.
Tel : + 33 (0)2 33 50 31 81 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 33 50 39 90
Reservation Mandatory
Daily crossings from April 1 to September 30th
Crossings every Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, November and March.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays in December, January and February.
Additional trips during spring tides.
Compagnie Maritime CORSAIRE
Beginning of April till end of September.
Daily crossings in 50 min.
Tel : + 33 (0) 825 138 050 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 33 50 87 80
E-mail : info@compagniecorsaire.com
Near the Harbour Station, a free car park and a paying car park are available.
What to see
The "Blainvillais" village
A group of fishermen houses.
The stronghold
Built in 1886 in the southern part of the island, the citadel was the last fortress built in France in the Vauban architecture. Its blockhouses have now become fishermen lodgings.
Getting around
On foot only !
Sailing
The "Sound", this channel that goes along Great Island is often said by the navigators to be one of the world’s most beautiful anchoring !
Discovering the islands of Chausey thanks to sea kayak renting
Tél : 06 07 51 35 57 - Web : www.chausey-kayaks.com
Accommodations/Food
One hotel
Council self catering holiday
accommodations
Private self catering holiday
accommodations
Caming is forbidden on the island
Accommodations
details available at the Tourist Office of Granville
Nature
Nature visits are proposed during summer to learn about the "Avifauna" (most of the islets shelter birds that come each year to give birth to their chicks – do respect the rules to avoid disturbing them), and discover all the richness of the archipelago where the tide range (a difference of more than 15 meters deep between the lower and the higher tides) is exceptional.
Information at the Tourist Office of Granville.
Getting There
